Edward b



(No Model.) I

E. B. POOTE, Sr. Dilator for Cure pf Phimosis.

No. 242,443. Patented June 7, 1881'.

2;;2 67/ a"? 4/ H: 5 E @112 $1 TI WTHEEEEE Maw @M gw/w/w p Mu NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD B..FOOTE, SR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DILATOR FOR CURE OF PHIMOSIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,443, dated June '7, 1881.

Application filed February 2, 1581. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD B. FoorE, Sr., a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements relating to Instruments for the Cure of Phimosis; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

The principle on which my instruments act is gentle and gradual dilatation. I provide for continuing the gentle strain for many days, or weeks, if necessary, until the foreskin shall, by degrees, be enlarged, so as to allow the parts to serve in the ordinary natural manner, care being taken to avoid proceeding too rapidly, and to aid the operation by the use of vaseline or analogous soothing and relaxing ointment. The proceeding requires only the most ordinary medical skill.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the discovery.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a perspective view of the device with the dilators closed. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the dilators open partially and a button on the inside. Fig. 3 is an end view of the button. Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 3 on line :0 m. Fig. 5 is a section of Fig. 3 on line y y.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in all the figures.

A is a circular piece of metal, which I will designate as the body of the instrument.

B B, 850., are screws tapped into A and loosely confining a series of dilators of tapering form, extending parallel, or approximately parallel, to each other, as indicated. The outer surface of each dilator D is smoothly rounded, and near the free end is bent outward, as indicated at 1).

O is a large screw tapped through the center A and turned by a milled head, 0. The other end of G is received loosely in a movable disk, 3

E, and as the screw 0 is turned one way or the other it moves the disk E toor from the body A. Moving toward the body allows the dilators D to contract. Moving from the body compels the dilators to open gradually.

The screw 0 is hollow. Through it extends a rod, G, having a collar, G, near its inner end.

I provide approximately spool-shaped detachable pieces, M, of hard rubber, wood, or other suitable material, adapted to be held loosely on the inner end of G,within the dilators D, and to be thrust gently out into place by means of the rod G and its collar G.

In most cases of phimosis the contraction of the skin is only for a very short distance; but I make the spool-shaped pieces M of sufficient length to serve if the contraction extends a little distance.

To use the instrument the parts to be treated are profusely lubricated with an unctuous preparation for relaxing the tissues and preventing inflammation. The dilators are contracted and inserted, and the screw 0 turned to move the dilators apart. The smallest of the set of pieces M, having been previously set on the inner end of G, is now moved into position by sliding the rod G, and the screw 0 turned in the direction to allow the dilators to contract. They contract upon the piece M, but a little gentle motion allows them to slip off, leaving the piece M embraced by the skin, where it will remain,

serving as a permanent dilatant of that moderate size till after a few days the operation is repeated, inserting this time the next larger piece M, and so on until the parts are fully dilated and the patient is permanently cured.

The grooves min the larger pieces M allow the curved narrow ends of the dilators I) to sink within the body of M when the dilators areinsorted and withdrawn. These grooves may be important in the last portion of the treatment in obstinate cases; but I have not found them generally necessary. I have worked successfully without the bar G, simply introducing the proper piece M well back against the disk E and causing it to move outward into place by gravity after the skin was properly dilated. For ordinary cases this simpler mode of operation may be relied on as suflicient, and for such the screw 0 may be made solid.

Modifications may be made in many of the details. The number of the dilators D maybe increased or diminished. I prefer four. The outward bend, D, at the end of each is important, as otherwise the instrument isliable to slip.

Afree use of Vaseline or some other-unctuous preparation isexpedient to relax the tissues and preventthe membranes from becoming inflamed.

I have proved by experiment that the, prepuee or foreskin may, with suitable instruments, aided by unctnous preparations, such as "aseline, be dilated so as to overcome phimosis; and as my invention for this purpose I claim 1. The dilators 1), operating means 0 E, and exchangeable pieces M, combined and adapted for joint operation as herein specified.

2. The body A, loose screws or hinges B, operating-screw O, dilators D 1), disk E, and rod G,with its shoulder G, combined and arranged to serve relatively to each other and to the exchangeable pieces M, as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand at New York city, in the State of New York, this 31st day of January, 1881, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD 1?. FOOTE, SEN.

Witnesses:

' E. G. MUGRAVE,

LOUIS COHEN. 

